Well, school is under way across the state, however no bus acquisitions to note. Quite a few different vehicles doing cruise ship tours, but no-one new. On the Tasmanian Bus & Coach Society front, the TBCS will be displaying coaches at the Tasmanian Truck Show in Carrick THIS SUNDAY 11th Feb, along with the Launceston Motor Show later in the month and the Devonport Motor Show on March 25. If you haven't checked out our vehicles, come along and say HI The Society hope to have other operators join us, for a wide variety of historic vehicles.

On Wednesday 7th Feb Hobart had 2 large cruise ships in port for the day.

Red Decker company was accordingly busy with all 6 fleet members noted in traffic in the vicinity of the Visitor centre around 1pm. Interesting that the standard timetable was being maintained but with 3 vehicles on each service meaning at one stage 4 deckers were double parked in lower Elizabeth Street together with the 2 others nearby awaiting space.

Coal River Coaches have a brand new Mercedes Benz O500 / Coach Concepts, whilst the new owners of Saintys (L'ton) have a new Zhong Tong full-size bus. Grand Touring are operating their luxury BLK President (ex Darwin) around Hobart on cruise ships and I believe it will be based here in Hobart in the future. No word on Metro's first TASMANIAN BUILT Bustech units, with delivery expected at the end of Feb/early Mar. Can only assume they are on schedule. And McDermott Coaches (Legana) have recently taken delivery of their second Volvo B11R / Coach Design.

The Tasmanian Bus & Coach Society's annual Enthusiast Tour is well under way, with final confirmations from operators expected within next few weeks. This year, the tour will inspect operators in the Huon, Cygnet, Channel & Margate region on day 1, with a visit to operators in Cambridge, Sorell, Copping and the Tasman Peninsula on day 2. TBCS annual tours are very popular and generally attract many visitors from the mainland along with the usual locals. Here's hoping the weather stays fine for the weekend.

If anyone is on the hunt or wants info for ex Metro Buses in their afterlife, there is a MK1 Volvo B10ML Arctic (couldn’t identify it) appears converted to a camper on Arthur Highway on a property at Dunalley, corner of Spotswood Road

999 wrote:Not so much a bus observation than a bus depot observation but a 20t Excavator has made light work of the former Metro Mornington Depot.

Apart from a little bit standing it’s a pile of rubble as of about lunch time today.

WOW!!! Did not know that was happening. I wonder who is going to build there now

999 wrote:If anyone is on the hunt or wants info for ex Metro Buses in their afterlife, there is a MK1 Volvo B10ML Arctic (couldn’t identify it) appears converted to a camper on Arthur Highway on a property at Dunalley, corner of Spotswood Road

ex #709 (HC14) Has been there quite a while now. 718, 719 are located in Pass Rd toward Clarendon Vale, but have been graffitied and I believe 720 headed to the NE Coast. 714 has also headed down the Peninsula, but well off the road away from view.

For those that may be following the arrivals of the Bustech XDis to Metro, 802 has now joined 801 and 800 on the streets of Hobart. Next one due in 8 (working) days time.

Last weekend, O'Driscoll Coaches had a 12 coach movement with the City to Casino Fun Run shuttle. Although the race was shortened, the 12 buses were still used to transport participants. Photo coverage in Photo Section.

Metro Bustech update: 803 entered service mid-week, whilst 10 & 12 have been brought to Hobart for sale. 636 & 630 have returned to Burnie to replace. All going to schedule, 804 'should' arrive next Friday.Wisby Buses (Margate) have purchased a large size Yutong ZK6129HCA, similar to Moon's of Woodbridge.